Big Sky Times

Mineral County Man Found Guilty of Incest and Sexual Assault

By Big Sky Times | Apr 15, 2024

A Mineral County man, Bradley Thomas Evans, 65, has been found guilty of one count of incest and one count of sexual assault on a minor. The verdict was delivered following a jury trial in Mineral County District Court, as announced by Attorney General Austin Knudsen.According to reports, Evans was convicted of sexually assaulting two young girls between January 2017 and September 2019. The incidents took place at his home in Superior, where Evans inappropriately touched the girls, with one of them being younger than 12 and the other younger than 16.The investigation...

Attorney General Knudsen and DEA host Montana Family Summit

By Big Sky Times | Apr 10, 2024

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Rocky Mountain Field Division, organized a Family Summit in Billings to address the drug overdose epidemic impacting the state. The summit brought together over a dozen families from various parts of Montana to engage with local, state, and federal officials on combating the drug crisis."I’m thankful to the families who shared their stories today. I will continue to do everything I can as attorney general to combat the drug crisis in Montana for the parents, siblings,...

Montana's Q3 2023 individual income tax revenue down 36.5% from previous quarter

By Big Sky Times | Apr 5, 2024

The third quarter of 2023 brought in $481 million in individual income tax revenue for Montana, a 36.5% decrease from the second quarter of 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Quarterly Summary of State and Local Taxes.

Attorney General Knudsen Leads Coalition Against the Biden Administration’s Abandoning of Immigration Rule

By Big Sky Times | Apr 5, 2024

HELENA – Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen today led a coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in support of states attempting to stop the Biden administration’s collusion with activists. The coalition's amicus brief was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, backing states like Kansas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and West Virginia in their efforts to intervene in a lawsuit against the Biden administration’s “Circumvention of Lawful Pathways” rule.Attorney General Knudsen expressed his concerns, stating,...

$164 million in sales and gross receipt tax revenue for Montana in Q3 2023

By Big Sky Times | Apr 3, 2024

Montana collected $164 million in tax and gross receipts, a 33.6% decrease from the second quarter of 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau

Attorney General Knudsen appoints Kurt Sager as new Montana Highway Patrol colonel

By Big Sky Times | Apr 2, 2024

Attorney General Austin Knudsen has appointed Kurt Sager as the new colonel and head of the Montana Highway Patrol. Sager, who previously served as lieutenant colonel with 21 years of experience within the agency, has been praised by Knudsen for his leadership qualities. Knudsen expressed confidence in Sager's abilities to tackle the public safety challenges facing Montana and looks forward to collaborating with him to serve and protect the people of the state.In response to his appointment, Colonel Sager expressed gratitude towards Attorney General Knudsen for entrusting...

Montana experiences higher inflation rate than national average as of March 2024

By Big Sky Times | Apr 1, 2024

As of March 2024, Montana experienced a 21.6% increase in prices of goods and services since January 2021, compared to the nationwide trend of a 19.4% increase.

Average VA home loan amount in Alabama for Q1 totals $394,356

By Big Sky Times | Mar 31, 2024

The average VA home loan amount in Montana during the first quarter of the fiscal year 2024 was $394,356, according to the Veterans Affairs Home Loans Index.

Montana collects $97 million in license tax revenue in Q4

By Big Sky Times | Mar 30, 2024

Montana collected $97 million in license taxes during the fourth quarter of 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Quarterly Summary of State and Local Taxes.

Montana collects $160 million in property tax revenue in Q4

By Big Sky Times | Mar 30, 2024

Montana collected $160 million in property taxes during the fourth quarter of 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Quarterly Summary of State and Local Taxes.

Montana’s combined tax revenues up 10.5% in Q4 compared to same quarter of the previous year

By Big Sky Times | Mar 29, 2024

Montana collected $1.2 billion in combined tax revenues, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Quarterly Summary of State and Local Taxes.

Attorney General Knudsen Files Lawsuit Against Biden’s Illegal Student Debt Relief Plan

By Big Sky Times | Mar 29, 2024

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, along with ten other attorneys general, has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration's student loan forgiveness scheme. The lawsuit challenges the Department of Education's interpretation of the Higher Education Act, which would result in the cancellation of over $100 billion in student debt.In the lawsuit, the attorneys general argue that the Department of Education is overstepping its bounds by bypassing Congress and creating rules that would effectively turn loans into grants, impacting state economies and leading to...

Montana’s property tax revenues up 3.2% in Q4 compared to same quarter of the previous year

By Big Sky Times | Mar 28, 2024

Montana collected $160 million in property tax revenues, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Quarterly Summary of State and Local Taxes.

Montana’s sales and gross receipts tax revenue up 2% in Q4 compared to previous quarter

By Big Sky Times | Mar 27, 2024

Montana collected $237 million in sales and gross receipts taxes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Quarterly Summary of State and Local Taxes.

Montana’s sales and gross receipts tax revenue up 1% in Q4 compared to same quarter of the previous year

By Big Sky Times | Mar 26, 2024

Montana collected $237 million in sales and gross receipts taxes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Quarterly Summary of State and Local Taxes.

61 New Officers Graduate from the Montana Law Enforcement Academy

By Big Sky Times | Mar 26, 2024

HELENA – Sixty-one new officers who will serve in 36 agencies across the state graduated today from the Montana Law Enforcement Academy (MLEA) within the Montana Department of Justice. MLEA provides basic and advanced training for state, county, city, and tribal law enforcement officers throughout the state.Attorney General Austin Knudsen was in attendance to congratulate and address the graduates. "I’m confident that today’s graduates are ready to face the challenges ahead of them as they begin their careers in law enforcement and I’m proud of what they have already...

Attorney General Knudsen Challenges Biden's Ban on LNG Exports

By Big Sky Times | Mar 25, 2024

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, along with 15 other attorneys general, has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration's ban on new liquified natural gas (LNG) exports. In a statement, the attorneys general highlighted the detrimental impact of the ban, stating, "Not only will the LNG Export Ban cause Plaintiff States direct harm such as loss of jobs and revenue streams tied to LNG, but it will also have detrimental ripple effects on their economies and communities."The ban, implemented in January by President Biden and the Department of Energy, has raised...

VA provides 202.5% more home purchase loans in Montana in Q4 2023

By Big Sky Times | Mar 23, 2024

There were 369 VA home purchases in Montana in the fourth quarter of the VA's fiscal year 2023, totaling $147.4 million in loans, according to figures provided by the Veterans Affairs Home Loans Index.

VA provides 369 home purchase loans in Montana in Q4 2023

By Big Sky Times | Mar 22, 2024

There were 369 VA home purchase loans issued in Montana in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2023 totaling $147.4 million, according to figures provided by the Veterans Affairs Home Loans Index.

GOP U.S. Senate candidate for Montana: 'Montanans want safe streets, a secure border that ends illegal immigration'

By Big Sky Times | Mar 21, 2024

U.S. Senate Republican candidate Tim Sheehy said on X that "Montanans want safe streets," border security that "ends illegal immigration," and for "criminals to be held accountable." According to Federal Newswire, the increase in fentanyl distribution and overdoses in Montana, along with human and drug trafficking, are linked to cartel smuggling operations.